OpenGL

Use the OpenGL render mode to create good-quality rendering previews that are fast and interactive. (For final-quality output, use RenderWorks; see Rendering with RenderWorks.)

The OpenGL mode performs lighting calculations based on polygons; this means that drawings with more polygons render more realistically. More advanced renderers, such as RenderWorks, calculate the lighting effects for each pixel. This method takes more time, but it produces higher-quality renderings.

VectorWorks has a default lighting scheme, so that a basic rendering does not require an added light source. However, the addition of a light source is usually necessary for a more realistic rendering (see Adding Light Sources). The addition of a light source automatically hides the default lighting scheme, so that the scene is not too bright. OpenGL renders up to eight lights in a drawing; additional lights have no effect.

To get the best performance from OpenGL, use a video card that supports hardware-accelerated OpenGL. There are significant compatibility issues with some cards; see www.nemetschek.net for a list of video cards that are compatible with VectorWorks.

VectorWorks 8 files that were rendered in QuickDraw 3D automatically render in OpenGL when they are converted to versions later than VectorWorks 8.

OpenGL Render Options

Use the OpenGL options to control the level of detail in rendered images, which in turn affects the render speed (less detail renders faster). These settings apply only to the current drawing; they remain in effect in the current drawing until the settings are changed. The current OpenGL settings are saved when you create a template (see Using Drawing Tablets).

To set the OpenGL options:

1.	Select View > Rendering > OpenGL Options.

The OpenGL Render Settings dialog box opens.

 

Parameter	Description
Detail	Specifies the level of detail for renderings; a low setting renders faster
Use Textures (RenderWorks required)	Renders object textures; this provides better detail, but it takes longer to render
Use Anti-Aliasing	Filters the rendering and reduces pixellated edges; this option is unavailable if the graphics card does not support the feature
Use NURBS	Uses NURBS surfaces instead of polygonal approximation, for renderings with high quality, smooth curved surfaces; to smooth mesh objects, enable mesh smoothing in the document preferences (see Display Preferences)
Draw Edges (RenderWorks required)	Renders objects with lines drawn around the edges, similar to the lines in the Hidden Line render mode
Use Shadows (RenderWorks required)	Objects in the drawing cast shadows on other objects (but not on the ground plane)
On Ground Only (RenderWorks required)	If Use Shadows is selected, select this option to have objects in the drawing cast shadows on a plane at the lowest point in the drawing — which is usually the ground plane — but not on other objects
Softness (RenderWorks required)	If Use Shadows is selected, select the level of softness for the shadow edges (a low setting uses less memory and renders faster)

2.	Select the OpenGL render options, and click OK to change the settings for the file.